Seniors rally in Peoria against Medicare changes

Saturday

Jul 23, 2011 at 12:01 AMJul 23, 2011 at 10:04 PM

A group of senior citizens gathered Friday morning to protest what they perceive as U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock's attack on Medicare. Members of the Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans met at 11 a.m. in front of the federal courthouse Downtown.

PHILIP JOHNSON

A group of senior citizens gathered Friday morning to protest what they perceive as U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock's attack on Medicare.

Members of the Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans met at 11 a.m. in front of the federal courthouse Downtown.

With chants of "Hands off Medicare," the group of 20 or so celebrated Medicare's 46th birthday.

Bill Purcell, 68, a retired railroad man from Bartonville, was one of the protesters.

"For a lot of people my age, Medicare is a godsend," Purcell said. "If we were to privatize health care like Congressman Schock wants to do, we're just going to fatten the pockets of the insurance companies."

Following a few speeches, group members entered the courthouse and requested to meet with Schock - they had a Medicare birthday cake for him.

A pair of surprised security guards welcomed the seniors with remarks about no cameras, no press and no blocking of doorway access.

Although Schock, a Peoria Republican, was in Washington, D.C., for debt ceiling debate, a pair of young male representatives came down and accepted the cake.

"We will probably have to donate the cake," said Steve Dutton, Schock's communications director. "Congressional rules prohibit the acceptance of gifts."

Ginny Nailing, a retired Caterpillar employee from Peoria, believes changes to Medicare would be devastating.

"There's no way I would be able to pay for all the medicine and doctors visits I need without Medicare," she said.

Nailing also expressed concern about the impact of raising Medicare's eligibility age.

"Congressman Schock fully supports the Ryan plan's intention of continuing the benefits for those 55 and older," Dutton said.

Dutton was referring to a plan by U.S. Rep Paul Ryan, R-Wis., chairman of the House Budget Committee.

The seniors who gathered Friday said they don't expect their protest to have much direct impact.

"No way an event like this will change his views," Purcell said of Schock. "He's influenced by bigger people than us. To him, we're just nobodies. The problem is that we're seniors, and seniors vote."